ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandyal on Monday remarked that the Supreme Court will not interfere in economic matters as it has no expertise in the domain. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Bandyal and comprising Justice Ayesha A. Malik and Justice Athar Minullah, heard the plea of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) against the privatization of K Electric. A private power utility company in Karachi
The bench advised JI’s counsel Rashid A. Rizvi that he may approach the concerned High Court on the matter. The Chief Justice observed that Parliament has recently enacted two laws relating to Clause 3 of Article 184, which states that for a court to have original jurisdiction over a matter, it must first be of public importance and It must involve violation of fundamental rights. Within the constitution
The Chief Justice added that ‘we have fixed the old cases for hearing to ascertain whether they are alive’. Advocate Salahuddin told the court that an application has also been filed in the court against KESC Labor Union. However, Justice Ayesha A. Malik remarked that the matter is not before the court at present.
The petitioner’s counsel requested to adjourn the hearing of the case till next week. The Chief Justice said that the court will be on vacation from next week. Therefore, judges will not be available and will work in respective registries. Meanwhile, the Chief Justice adjourned the hearing of the case till Tuesday (today), directing counsel to seek instructions in this regard.
The company, formerly known as Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC), was privatized in 2005 to a Saudi-Kuwaiti group for Rs 16 billion. On those days, the price of the US dollar in the interbank market was Rs 59.75. At these rates, the company was privatized for $270 million.
